A sample of organic dairy farms were recruited as part of a study investigating the potential benefits of animal welfare assessment benchmarking, which is used as a tool for health and welfare planning in England. The study tested the hypothesis that benchmarking, through identifying areas of weakness of a farm, will allow forward planning for welfare improvement. The welfare assessment involved a sequence of observations. The observations included counting the number of cows considered to be idling, assessment of rising restrictions, and measuring the flight distance of randomly selected animals. The animals' body condition was scored, and they were assessed for cleanliness, coat condition, rumen fill and signs of injury or trauma.